Customer Reviews

The Sierra Club Guide to Painting in Nature (Sierra Club Books Publication)

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here's a great book for painting out of doors. The author, Cathy Johnson, includes information for beginners in a simple, concise manner with an introduction to various media, their use, strengths, and limitations. Suggestions for initial supplies is a very helpful feature. Simple and clear colored pictures illustrate techniques. Included is an excellent bibliography as well as a list of organized painting trips, both domestic and foreign.

The author's wide range of ideas for subject matter in landscape, trees, flowers, birds, butterflies, turtles, frogs and all kinds of small furry fauna is an inspiration to both beginners and experienced painters to get out their brushes and CREATE! Her ideas of simplifying distant landscapes or of taking a close view of a single flower, rock, or tree root will bring fresh ideas to try.

Having worked in the art discipline of a liberal arts college library for many years and currently painting and continuing to study books on painting, I recommend "Painting in Nature" with great enthusiasm.

The back of the book says it is "Richly illustrated with delightful studies and will inspire...beginners and accomplished artists alike....," but I don't agree. I have a few books I cherish by Cathy Johnson, so when I was this title I was quite excited. However, for me at least, it was somewhat of a let down. I have read and was inspired by her book "The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature". I have been painting plein air for a few years now. Perhaps this book is just too basic for me, but I felt it rehashed much of what I read in "Sketching." Much of the art work in the book is good I suppose, yet I didn't find much of it inspiring, again that is only from my perspective, and I understand her basic point: We work quickly when working outside, trying to capture the feeling or mood and we don't often even attempt what some would call a finished painting. So my advice would be to consider reading or purchasing "The Sierra Club Guide to Sketching in Nature" first and then take a close look at this one at your local library to see if it is compatible with your needs, your point of view and your level of expertise. Yikes! I hate writing less than an excellent review here because Johnson has inspired me so much with other books, but at least for me this one just didn't do it.

This was one of the first watercolor books I bought. I love her books and illustrations and style.
Check her website, it rocks!! Get this and her other works, you won't be disappointed.